Hancock’s response to the care homes judgement shows he's determined to blame officials for Covid mistakes
29 Apr Legal

Hancock’s response to the care homes judgement shows he's determined to blame officials for Covid mistakes

The court judgement, and Hancock’s pugnacious response, show the battle at the Covid-19 inquiry between ministers and officials over who is ultimately to blame for failures and mistakes is likely to get brutal
by Richard Vize
Met ends Partygate investigation with 83 people fined and 126 FPNs in total
19 May Legal
Met ends Partygate investigation with 83 people fined and 126 FPNs in total
Union proposes staff boycott of Home Office’s ‘inhumane’ Rwanda scheme
13 May Legal
Union proposes staff boycott of Home Office’s ‘inhumane’ Rwanda scheme
Partygate: Met reveals at least 50 more fines have been issued
12 May Legal
Partygate: Met reveals at least 50 more fines have been issued
Politicians gloat about their Covid successes, but the truth is nothing to shout about
10 May Legal
Politicians gloat about their Covid successes, but the truth is nothing to shout about
Matt Hancock says the UK's performance was "similar to or better than most comparable countries", but let's not forget the fiascos
Home Office official found guilty of spiking pregnant lover’s drink with abortion pills
04 May Legal
Home Office official found guilty of spiking pregnant lover’s drink with abortion pills
Deputy director Darren Burke joined the civil service in August 2020
High Court challenge launched against Home Office’s Rwanda plans
28 Apr Legal
High Court challenge launched against Home Office’s Rwanda plans
Civil service union says Priti Patel has failed to set out legal basis for sending asylum seekers to east Africa for “processing”
As ministers urge civil servants back to the office, we need more nuance and less petty politics
21 Apr Legal
As ministers urge civil servants back to the office, we need more nuance and less petty politics
As Jacob Rees-Mogg tours offices likes a prefect taking register, he would be better advised to talk to staff about what they are doing to support the country and his government
ICO ends criminal probe into leaked DHSC footage of Hancock
20 Apr Legal
ICO ends criminal probe into leaked DHSC footage of Hancock
Watchdog says there is “insufficient evidence” to prosecute pair over CCTV images that cost health secretary his job
Shapps announces crackdown on ferry firms to combat ‘outrageous’ P&O sackings
31 Mar Legal
Shapps announces crackdown on ferry firms to combat ‘outrageous’ P&O sackings
HMRC will target resources at companies’ minimum-wage compliance and Insolvency Service will explore Hebblethwaite ban
Met Police issues first 20 Partygate fines
29 Mar Legal
Met Police issues first 20 Partygate fines
Boris Johnson among dozens sent interview questionnaires after Sue Gray probe into Covid rule-breaking
Confused accountability between ministers and civil servants makes government less effective. Time for a new statute
23 Mar Legal
Confused accountability between ministers and civil servants makes government less effective. Time for a new statute
Parliament should legislate for a new statute to strengthen the civil service’s accountability, identity and purpose
Raab pledges support for ICC probe into Russian war crimes
15 Mar Legal
Raab pledges support for ICC probe into Russian war crimes
UK will provide police and military analysis, specialist IT and legal expertise for evidence-gathering, says deputy prime minister
HMCTS names new chief executive
24 Feb Legal
HMCTS names new chief executive
One of Nick Goodwin's major tasks will be tackling the huge backlog in court cases
PM scraps Covid restrictions and announces end to free tests from April
22 Feb Legal
PM scraps Covid restrictions and announces end to free tests from April
Legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test for Covid-19 to end on 24 February under "Living with Covid" plan
Inquiry launched into whether politicians should be law officers
18 Feb Legal
Inquiry launched into whether politicians should be law officers
The House of Lords Constitution Committee will examine whether it is appropriate for ministers to hold roles such as attorney general and solicitor general
Cabinet Office to set up conversion-therapy support helpline
17 Feb Legal
Cabinet Office to set up conversion-therapy support helpline
Contract notice seeks provider for phone and web service for victims ahead of legal ban
High Court declares Dido Harding appointment unlawful
15 Feb Legal
High Court declares Dido Harding appointment unlawful
Campaigners claim victory in “chumocracy” case over former NHS Test and Trace boss and director Mike Coupe
Johnson to set up new prime minister's department in response to Gray report
31 Jan Legal
Johnson to set up new prime minister's department in response to Gray report
New department will be led by a perm sec and will tackle “fragmented” leadership structures, PM pledges
Met Police asks Sue Gray to make 'minimal reference' to parties under investigation
28 Jan Legal
Met Police asks Sue Gray to make 'minimal reference' to parties under investigation
The force has asked for details to be left out "to avoid prejudice to our investigation"
Government testing identifies accessibility issues on 99% of public sector websites
26 Jan Legal
Government testing identifies accessibility issues on 99% of public sector websites
CDDO monitoring found that vast majority of sites did not wholly comply with regulations
Data watchdog warns civil servants not to delete messages amid party probe
14 Jan Legal
Data watchdog warns civil servants not to delete messages amid party probe
ICO says “erasing, destroying or concealing” relevant information is a criminal offence
Opinion: Two questions Sue Gray must answer about her Covid party probe, and one for us
11 Jan Legal
Opinion: Two questions Sue Gray must answer about her Covid party probe, and one for us
"If the purpose of the partygate inquiry is to reassure us, then we’re being asked to accept a string of foolish choices," a former civil servant writes
Police 'in contact with Cabinet Office' over Downing Street garden party
11 Jan Legal
Police 'in contact with Cabinet Office' over Downing Street garden party
Leaked email shows Boris Johnson's PPS inviting more than 100 people to May 2020 get-together
Home Office appoints panel to advise on 'scientific' ways to verify age of asylum seekers
07 Jan Legal
Home Office appoints panel to advise on 'scientific' ways to verify age of asylum seekers
Ethical concerns have been raised over the plans for medical age assessment
‘We are absolutely determined to get it right’: Max Hill on one of the CPS's biggest challenges
03 Jan Legal
‘We are absolutely determined to get it right’: Max Hill on one of the CPS's biggest challenges
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The director of public prosecutions tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
‘Huge honour’: Susanna McGibbon reflects on her first year as GLD chief
31 Dec 2021 Legal
‘Huge honour’: Susanna McGibbon reflects on her first year as GLD chief
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The GLD perm sec tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
Douglas Wilson: How did AGO staff tackle the challenges of 2021? Strong coffee and a smile
27 Dec 2021 Legal
Douglas Wilson: How did AGO staff tackle the challenges of 2021? Strong coffee and a smile
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The Attorney General's Office DG tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges